Microsoft phone call scam: don't be a victim

If you receive a phone call from a security 'expert' at Microsoft offering to fix your PC - it's a scam. Here's how to avoid the Microsoft phone scam, and what to do if you fear you have fallen victim to it.

Avoid the Microsoft phone scam, what to do if you are hit

We're still getting reports that people are falling victim to the Microsoft phone scam

If you receive a phone call from a security 'expert' offering to fix your PC - it's a scam. Here's how to avoid the 'Microsoft phone scam', and what to do if you fear you have fallen victim to it. See also - other common UK scams to avoid.

Despite having gone on for years - since 2009 in fact - the "I'm from Microsoft and you've got a problem with your PC" scam phone calls haven't gone away. Find out more about protecting your PC at ourSecurity Advisor.

Microsoft phone scam: how it works

The scammer calls you, and asks for you by name. They say they are a computer security expert from Microsoft (or another legitimate tech company or a Microsoft 'partner'). The 'security expert' is plausible and polite, but officious. They say that your PC or laptop has been infected with malware, and that they can help you solve the problem. What happens now depends on the particular strain of scam with which you have been targeted.

Some crooks will ask you to give them remote access to your PC or laptop, and then use that access to get hold of your personal data. Others get you to download a tool which they say is the "fix" for your problem, but is actually malware. A more straightforward scam is to simply ask for money in return for a lifetime of 'protection' from the malware they pretend is on your machine.

Here's the important bit: no legitimate IT security company - certainly not Microsoft - is ever going to call you in this way. For one thing, they can't even tell that your PC is infected. They've got your name from the phone book, or any one of the thousands of marketing lists on which your details probably reside. They know nothing about your home computing set up - they're just chancers.

Basically, somebody is sitting in a room calling number after number hoping to find a victim. It's not personal, but it is ultimately dangerous to your financial and technological health.

Microsoft phone scam: what to do if you are called

1. Put the phone down. Get rid of the caller and move on with your life. It is not a legitimate call.

2. During your conversation, don't provide any personal information. This is a good rule for any unsolicited call. And certainly never hand over your credit card or bank details. Just don't do it.

3. If you've got this far, we can only reiterate point number 1: get off the phone. But whatever you do don't allow a stranger to guide you to a certain webpage, or instruct you to change a setting on your PC or download software.

4. If possible get the caller's details. You should certainly report any instance of this scam to Action Fraud.

5. Finally, change any passwords and usernames that could plausibly have been compromised, and run a scan with up-to-date security software. Then ensure that your firewall and antivirus are up to date and protecting your PC.

Oh, and there is a number 6: tell everyone about it. This scam preys on people's insecurity about lack of tech knowledge. It is very easy to be a victim, and the best defence is sharing knowledge. It is much easier to put the phone down if you are forewarned.

Microsoft phone scam: what to do if you have been a victim

First of all don't beat yourself up. This could happen to anyone (and does). You need to change all the personal data that you can change. As much as you might like to you can't change your date of birth, and changing your name and address seems extreme. But you can change all your passwords and usernames, starting with your main email account and any bank- and credit card logins. Also, contact your bank to ask them to be on the lookout for anything dodgy.

Again, use up-to-date security software to scan and cleanse your PC, and if the scammer did get you to do something to your PC using System Restore to roll back the settings is always a good idea. And tell the police. If you have lost money, it's possible your credit card company or contents insurance will cover the loss.

Comments

mogsie1 - 16:20 07-02-2018

i recieved a call from one of them today, asian eccent, said he was a microsoft employee, informed me that i had hacking files on my pc and unless i removed them microsoft was going to put a blocker on my pc, he knew my home address, he said he wanted to help me remove the hacker files so my pc wouldnt get blocked, which he said would happen in 2 hours unless i resolved situation. i explained that my pc was not powered up and i didnt have time to switch it on at the moment, then he started getting quite persistant that i switch my pc on and read out to him my windows product key, as he needed to confirm it was same as he had, i said to him "if you have it you read my product key back to me" he said i had to read my key to him first, at which point i told him to go ahead and put a blocker on my pc then call me back when you have done it. so far 6 hours later no blocker and no call back, but not sure why he was so keen to get my product key number ?

doppelganger - 08:51 02-12-2017

Had the call today, 08.00 Saturday morning spouting jargon and interchangeably using tech terms and saying MS a lot. He gave his name - in a thick Indian accent - as Ryan Woods and provided a call back number. He quoted my wife's name, land land number, postcode and a nonsense MS number. The only convincing thing about his was that he was a curt and jargon-spouting as a real MS employee.

fredwalton - 15:53 21-06-2017

Getting 3 calls a day 2 men and 1 woman in the end I decided to play along acting the fool reading back the web addresses they gave me wrong switching letters round, and saying .com instead of net etc. After about half an hour the first one got very annoyed and said you are wasting my time I am trying to help you then another man took over I recognised both of their voices from previous calls. After another half an hour I said I think I have it right now and read the address back correctly. He said good now click OK. I answered I don't think I will do that because whilst you have been talking to a webmaster for the past hour you haven't been scamming anyone. He said oooh oooh oooh.

Later on the lady rang and said I an calling from Microsoft so I replied how interesting, you are the third person who has called from Microsoft today which is very strange since Microsaft never call anyone to ask how their computer is performing.I suggest you speak with your male colleagues and ask them to tell you how they wasted an hour this morning.

And would you believe it the cheeky madam hung up on me.

joy696969 - 21:17 08-05-2017

The scam is active. I have been called several times by company that says they are the "Real Microsoft" and that I was scammed an paid for a service that loaded malware. They give a general date and a general dollar amount. He has an Indian accent and reports he is calling from Arizona. If I get on my PC and give them my IP address they can refund to my Paypal or debit card. He gives a number of 888-961-4592. He becomes rude and pushy if you ask questions.

Be Ware.

trose - 09:10 28-04-2017

As someone that has worked in IT since the 1970s (!) I am pretty hard to fool, but his effort is so amateurish that am amazed anyone is gullible enough to fall for it.

I strung them along a few times, but they call once a week on average so doing that is no longer fun. I would not be surprised if someone more insane than me was to track down a perpetrator and put an end to this malarkey with the aid of an AK47. I do not think I would shed many tears.

Katz1 - 07:36 07-04-2017

This is a really fun scam. I get at least one phone call a week from these jokers. I just string them along and ask them to phone me back on my "other line which is in my home office next to my computer". I then give them the phone number of the local police station and make a big deal about getting them to make sure they've written down the right number and getting them to promise me they'll phone me back straight away as I'm so worried about this problem on my computer that they've so kindly phoned to tell me about. "Thank you so much, make sure you phone me back straight away now, bye." Very entertaining.

Tommy Jenkins - 20:16 27-01-2017

ADDENDUM. These wicked people called my house again, only this time, their recording actually tied up my phone so that I couldn't make an outgoing call. There could have been a 911 emergency!!!!!! Demand that your phone company provide services to prevent this from happening or we should join forces and file a class action lawsuit. WE ARE PAYING FOR A SERVICE and the PHONE COMPANY (COX COMMUNICATIONS IN MY CASE) ISN'T COMPLYING WITH THEIR OWN CONTRACT. SUE SUE SUE!!!!!!!

Tommy Jenkins - 20:08 27-01-2017

Fake "microsoft" called w/recorded msg 3x in 1 hour. They left 800-360-0998 as call back. I was relentless in calling them back. they would hang up on me, i would call right back. 3 different people were answering the phones. They would just hang up immediately after a while, but I kept calling from both home and cell phones. I kept doing this for 1 hour. Eventually the number was disconnected. Do no bother with your phone company. They won't do anything. COX WANTED TO SELL ME CALLER ID! YOU HAVE TO HARASS BACK. IT WILL WORK. At first I swore at them when they answered. Then I started keeping silent. They kept saying hello hello..... idiots finally got a clue. I told them I had all day and hundreds of friends to bombard them! HARASS BACK! FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE! TELL YOU FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO KEEP CALLING AND EVENTUALLY THE NUMBER WILL BE DISCONNECTED. WHEN THEY START ANSWERING AGAIN, START THE HARASSMENT. REDIAL IS EASY TO HIT ON THE PHONE.

m0dcm - 10:48 02-08-2016

I've had a number of these calls, and being a IT Technician I actually played along with them at first, and well it went down brilliantly!! As I and my family don't run Windows, or Mac, we run Linux in the flavour of Ubuntu.

To cut a long story short, the call started, and I thought "Lets play along!", I listened and I started to chuckle, especially when the operator said "We see your PC's are giving out errors to other servers", which is almost impossible!! The only way to send a virus out is via either an email or via an infected program/App. I gave him access to my Laptop screen, not my Desktop and as soon as he saw it wasn't the rubbish Windows, he quickly disconnected and told me to "F*** OFF!" and before he put the phone down, I said how does it feel to be scammed!!

I know others aren't going to be hot on the scams etc, but as the article says, be careful, be vigilant and also never give out your details, easier said than done I know.

The other best one, before I end this, was I and my Fiancee were at a local Cafe, and the owner had the same phone call a couple of months ago, she handed the phone to me, and I laughed so hard and said "If the kettle was giving out errors, I'd want my money back!!" and once again I was quickly told to go forth and do something with my Mom.... These Scammers are downright evil, and need stopping, but they use VOIP systems like Skype to make the calls, so you cannot track them easily!

Anyway, be safe online!!

Appaz84 - 17:46 05-07-2016

Hi can anyone please help me this has happened to my farther as he is old and not realised any different he had rang the number 08000988766 what was on the message on his screen and then give the man access to his PC and only when he refused to pay the £200 they asked the man hung up but my worrie now is my farther still at risk there was no card details or bank details passed over nor PayPal but with them having access is he still at risk also he can not get his PC back on now can anyone please advise what to do thanks.

iQuack - 01:48 17-05-2016

Received 2 of those PC repair calls today. Told the guys on the phone that a message popped up on my computer screen saying that an a**hole from India was going to call to scam me. They both said (in a thick Indian/Pakistani accents) that they were calling from New York.

In any case, I cussed 'em out and hung up. I get those calls all the time and occasionally string the scammers along to waste their time if I'm not busy. Would be nice to play an ear-splitting sound to blow their ears out if they're wearing headsets. Terrible people!

KrazyKynko - 15:35 13-05-2016

Answered the phone to them saying they are from Microsoft and i told them "this is a scam" they replied "no it isnt" i said "do you know why i know?" they asked why and i said I dont run windows i run linux ... cue lengthy tirade of swear words lol ... next time i get one im gonna take the ignorant route and waste their time and money ;)

Randall - 16:56 30-04-2016

I used to ask if their mother knew what they did and was proud of them.

Then I asked if their imam was proud.

Now I just waste their time and politely say "thank you so much for your help, I'll get in touch with my ISP, thanks again" and put the phone down.

They can't seem to cope with polite responses and are used to abuse so no point being rude.

Good cheap entertainment talking to them, so long as the computer is switched off.

Carrie - 23:04 08-02-2016

One of my joys is to waste as much of their time as possible then at the very end as their frustration mounts, I tell them I don't have a computer.

Tony - 11:26 28-01-2016

I received a call today from a persistent "so called" Microsoft representative. Let me name and shame the person...drum roll please.................. MARY WILKINSON from the Computer Licensing Department in Stanmore (this could of course be total guff but I played her at her game. (She eventually put the phone down when I asked her how much this was all going to cost!!! Of course, I refused to let her remotely access my lap-top. Poor dear, she 's has got no manners).

David - 16:34 07-01-2016

Apart from the impact on innocent parties I love these calls. My acting imagination runs riot, inventing all sorts of implausible "accidents" for ambulance-chasers and acting hard of hearing with these guys. One today got quite shirty when I said I couldn't hear him and, sadly, I retaliated by saying that he should be nicer to people if he was going to be a successful con-artist.........

Say What?? - 02:48 22-09-2015

My advice would be to find someone in your neighborhood or someone through a referral to be your computer guy. I've had my computer business for around ten years now. A lot of my clients, mostly my new clients have gotten these calls and have already forked over the money. My existing clients ALWAYS call me first before doing anything when anything like this happens. Get a computer guy you can trust and put all your computer related questions and problems on them. I sometimes hear that line, "a friend of my brothers brother" who knows a little about computers tried removing a virus but the virus was still there even though it didn't pop up. Get someone who knows what they are doing. After I clean out someone's PC they always wish they had found me sooner. I'm now over the 1,000 client mark.

Brendan Marples - 16:48 12-08-2015

Received a call from (international) 0019858530769 used by so called microsoft tech support. Its a scam and they get so annoyed when you dont comply to thei instructions. Be warned nasty people.

markww - 13:33 05-06-2015

Here are telephone numbers to the scammers after about a month I have a few numbers . They do answer as to Microsoft or the computer repair department .

Colorado telephone numbers 303351538930335153963033515388Canada this is them man who's getting the money from his gang of crooks 548-9654254

this call came to me yesterday 6-4-2015 from NYC 6467798826

Mark

EternalDamnation - 18:52 04-05-2015

I received a call from them. Fortunately, I knew about the scam. They asked if I was the owner of the computer. I said no, it belonged to my employer. (Not true). They asked who the employer was. I said the NSA and click...they immediately hung up. Unfortunately for them, I do work at the NSA and I tracked the call back to India. It is not a genuine phone number on your caller ID. It is a Voice over IP number. I then found that they were routing through 3 additional proxy servers and the call originated in a different IP address originating in New Delhi. I got my employer to make a report to Indian Law Enforcement. They don't do a good job of covering their tracks.

chris - 05:23 29-04-2015

Just last night i was targeted by a guy with an indian type accent.For a start he said that my laptop had been hacked and people were leeching the data from our wi-fi. At first i wasnt convinced, so hung up on this person 3 times only to have him ring back within 10seconds. Eventually i gave in because more of what he was saying sounded feasible, he then gave me a code to match with the code on my pc, amazingly this matched. Following this he downloaded something that allowed remote access and was operating it from his end showing all these supposed hacks etc.To cut a long story short he said that the windows operating system was comprimised and would shut down to a black screen and become useless in 1 hr if i didnt go along with this. When asked how much it would cost he said he didnt know. After this i thought "definite scam". i said im going no further, hung up the fone. Then scanned pc, but couldnt get rid of this remote access logo, so restarted pc. was then asked for a password, on 2nd attempt the pc restarted and performed a rollback and removed dangerous programs. PC is fine, thankfully i stopped early enuff.These scammers are disgraceful, taking advantage.I dont do online banking, nor do store sensitive/important info on it. They got nothing out of me this time, i wont make this mistake again thats for sure!/ BE WARNED FOLKES------TAKE CARE.

Colette Hall - 12:50 27-04-2015

The "gent" that called me from "microsoft" today, in the midst of an argument about how he sleeps at night, had him telling me to f*** you, that my IT engineer hubby was a homo and that I was a lesbian, among some other very choice expressions. I must say customer relations are top notch. lol. I like to keep em on as long as possible so they have less time scaring some poor old dear with their "your computer is at risk" rubbish. - why cant they just get a real job?

Carrie - 01:33 13-04-2015

All of these fake 800 # are scams! Never give out any personal information!! Microsoft computer security WILL NEVER CALL YOU and insist on payment like these low-life tele-scammers.

Connie Terpack - 15:50 27-03-2015

I've had an Indian guy call several times over the past few months. I knew it had to be a scam simply because Windows does not monitor computers. Today when the guy called me and I refused to give him my computer number, he became hostile and threatening. The police have now been notified.

Alan Goose - 12:31 24-03-2015

this site wont even let me clock the storry i want

Ms. Peach - 02:00 21-03-2015

Received a call this afternoon during dinner from 1-989-754-2307 from a woman with a strong Indian accent. She claimed to be from windows tech support and said my computer had downloaded folders containing malware, etc. I told her that my virus programs hadn't detected anything and I wasn't worried. She ignored me and told me to turn on my computer so she could help me. I stated that I was eating dinner and to give me the instructions so that I could do it when I had time later. She said she was trying to help me and I needed to go get on my computer right away. We went back and forth about that while I smacked loudly and clicked my silverware close to the mouthpiece. I told her to give me her number and I would call her back. She refused to give me her number and said that if I didn't cooperate with her the FBI had given her permission to shut my computer off in 48 hours. I laughed, called her a liar and hung up on her.

alt - 06:21 17-03-2015

This scam is sadly still around in 2015. I'm in a rental home, don't even own a PC, and the landline and phone number was established in some ladies name before i even got here-- basically, there's no way this phone number was ever 'linked' to this non existent PC that some man started frantically yelling at me about. A man with an indian accent called me twice this month--the first time at 6 am waking me up, the second time a few weeks later at 11 30 pm and he again woke me up. He shouted at me that I downloaded a known virus onto my computer and he was with microsoft technical support. NO LEGITIMATE TECH SUPPORT WOULD EVER DO THIS. I immediately knew it was a scam. Sadly a lot of people buy into this crap. I'm 23 and I know better but i see a lot of elderly people getting scammed because they are made to believe something is wrong with their computer. If you ever think something is wrong with your computer, take it in!!! Don't just blindly give someone a credit card over the phone!! Biggest mistake ever. Just hang up on the asshole

Alan James - 17:41 04-03-2015

I will rather go to a legitimate computer technician here where I live than go to over the phone. I can and have a reputable technician here to look at my computer. Id rather pay him and its much cheaper than from a technician overseas.Don,t fall for these scams like I did. I paid only once. So far everything is faster and with nop problems but I won,t fall for that again.

NotUndecided - 16:54 28-02-2015

I've gotten four calls in three days. Each from a different phone number. The first time I looked them up, saw it was a scam and hung up. The second time I let them take me to the place where they'd do damage (command window) and then told him i had to put him on hold, and to please wait. I was able to keep them on hold for 15 mins. The next time, a woman called. Right after she said it was the Microsoft Support Center. I asked what company that was and she said they don't have a company. I asked well then what company's name is on your paycheck. She yelled Moth*r F*****! and hung up. The fourth time I got called, it was a guy. I asked him what he was wearing. He was confused so I made it clear what I was asking. There was a long pause and he hung up. I can't wait for the next call!

Sarah Curran - 22:44 15-02-2015

I got one of these calls on Friday morning, for the first time ever, and at first, I didn't know what to make of it, They rang on the housephone, so it was my mum who ended up answering it, and after listening to this abrupt, impatient woman rambling on about how we had a virus and our computer was going to crash, she cut her off and said, 'Hold on, I don't know anything about computers, I'll get my daughter!' The woman probably couldn't believe she'd been speaking to the mother and not the computer owner, and she kept snapping, 'Where is your daughter, where is your daughter?' Mum couldn't believe how abrupt and even rude she was, and just told her firmly, 'Hold on, I'll get her now!' By the time I had the phone, it was a man on the line- the woman had scarpered- and I listened as he explained in a polite but insistent way that my computer had a virus, that they in Microsoft could see it showing up, and that if I didn't let him help me remove it, the whole system would crash. At this stage I still thought he was genuine, and I kept asking him, 'But how could I have a virus when I have a very good anti-virus program that does regular scans and checks- I'd know if something was wrong!' He just kept insisting, 'No, that is on the software, this is the hardware!' 'Well it's the same thing!' I told him, 'the anti-virus program checks the whole computer!' 'No, no, I will show you!' he insisted, in a strong Indian accent, and told me to go into the Run option and download a certain program. But what completely threw him- and what saved me- was that I had no Internet at that particular time, my Internet was down as I had no signal, and it had been that way for the past two days. But when I tried to explain this to him, he just couldn't grasp it- he still kept telling me to connect to the Internet, and when I nearly shouted, 'That's what I'm telling you- I CAN'T!' and then he couldn't believe it. I had to keep telling him about five times that I had no Internet at the moment, that it just wasn't working, and while at the time I just thought he was thick, he probably just couldn't believe his bad luck, that the one time he gets through to me was the one time I had no Internet! In the end I got so frustrated at him that Mum had to take the phone back, and she snapped, 'She's just told you about five times that she has no Internet, now do you not understand her?' She then asked them where they were based, and he said Dublin 18- we're Dublin 12. She also asked them, like I did, how I could possibly have a virus when my protection was so good, and it would know if something was wrong. I think they knew by us that we weren't going to be fooled, and between that and us having no Internet right now, he knew there was no point staying on the line. This man just said in a fedup way that he'd call me the next morning, and while he never did, so far, if I ever hear from them again, I'll be ready for them! I would never have given him my credit card details, especially as I didn't trust them, but what sickens me is what type of viruses or malware programs I could have downloaded if I'd let him use remote access- or he could still have control over my laptop now! I was just so lucky that I had no internet the very time they called. I know now that Microsoft would never make calls like this, so I'll be ready for them next time!!

Matts Computer Support - 10:17 10-02-2015

The real Microsoft would never Email/Phone or contact you in any way, unless you made an inquiry about one of their Products.

Sarah - 22:05 30-01-2015

This is war. Gird your loins. Prepare yourselves Citizens ofthe United Kingdom(and US of A)

3. You follow the instructions of the oik. He rejoices, hehas got his rupee, he has netted you but his English has now reached its zenith. He passes you to his supervisor.

4. The warm up is complete, this saviour of your computer willnow take you smoothly to your doom – emptying your bank account anyway. Let’s go - Hang on! you plead, you still don’t understand, what key,what box? Trouble is your computer is off but don’t panic, by now your are a whimpering,baffled 95 year old whose hearing and anxiety makes her require instructions to be repeated frequently and slowly.

5. This can only last so long, we reach a make or break criticalpoint, it is here you may make your biggest mistake, you may laugh, offer some expletive or loose character. Be strong, the supervisor still has the smallest hope that you are the nadir of the Indian Windows techie scam – you have dementia.

6. By a combination of tears, shock and whatever else youcan summon give him HOPE.

7It’s now been about 15 minutes, he is shouting ‘is you computeron? Are you joking me? And the ultimate joy; You are wasting my time you (standard Anglo Saxon expletives).'

8. It’s over. The phone in some crowded little Mumbai backstreetis slammed down. For 15 minutes you have saved Mrs Isittimeformycupofteayet in Upper Slaughter from having her life savings extricated from her bank account and the remainder of her life ruined.

Job Well Done.

0nl!n3 - 11:44 30-01-2015

As the article states, tech companies would never call you, EVER ! I agree, the best way to handle this is to immediately hangup the phone !! If you are the more adventurous type, you could try and waste the callers time by asking counter questions. The more you waste/spam his time, the less time he has to call and scam someone else. To really annoy the caller you can try and ask him/her direct sexually intimate questions, (use your imagination). Don't listen to the caller, just ask questions. ALWAYS answer the callers questions with questions, remember do NOT answer any of his/her questions at all. (You might even get the caller to hangup on you). Have fun :)

cindysnoopy - 02:14 23-01-2015

I've gotten 2 calls in the last couple of weeks. Didn't waste my time with them, but if they continue, I might waste their time for a while until they hang up on me.

lifeonholiday - 18:31 09-01-2015

I have had four calls in two days from PC Expert - international call, foreign sounding people, say the company is at 146 Banbury Road, OX1 4 BV. Apparently my computer that I have bought is displaying errors on their system and they want to help me fix them. I asked what version of windows it was and they just kept saying windows operating system, and when I asked what version i had supposedly bought they said it was operating system, I asked how they had my land line number (I never give this out) as I moved house 2 months ago and bought the computer a year or so ago. they just kept wanting me to go to the computer and confirm information. I asked if my computer was switched on right now to be displaying errors and they said yes - of course it wasn't!!. I asked how I could be removed from their list, this would cost me £20 to stop the calls. I got angry and was told "madam, take a sip of water and we will call you back in an hour"!! Whaaaaaat!! Just hang up, don't even speak to these people!! Total con, just after your details. They know nothing about you, or your purchase.

I hope they phone again tonight, am ready for them!

sun - 19:24 06-12-2014

i just screwed with them had it going for for around an hour then at then end i told them have a mac.

me - 23:28 03-12-2014

I got a call from one of these low life scammers. Before he got very far, I asked him if he likes scamming stupid people. He replied, " I scam all stupid American people." These people are complete trash.

Pickles The Drummer - 02:32 25-11-2014

Or #7 Screw with them and waste their time until they hang up;

ian - 22:41 23-11-2014

had this happen this week, they told me they were from Microsoft and my pc was running slow (which it was) they asked if my pc was on which it wasn't so they told me to turn it on, I refused and told them I didn't know who they were, they kept telling me they were Microsoft and I needed to turn my pc on, I asked where they had got my number and they told me it was from a survey I had carried out, they kept saying they needed to access my pc and when I said they could be anybody trying to scam me they said something in their language and slammed the phone down.

vander - 14:26 15-11-2014

I scam the scammers by keeping them on the phone as long as possible BUT DON'T follow their instructions just say you are. They have have no idea who or what you are they're just on a fishing trip so have some fun with them. You can almost hear them licking their lips thinking "I've got one here" One just called - microsoft scam again -so I said yes to all her questions and she gave me the instructions so the scammers could get remote access of my pc (then I assume rob me) but while the details were loading up which still hadn't after ten minute ha ha she asks if i've got "decision over the computer" when i said " no mummies not home" she still waited another couple of minutes before arranging a call back!!!! Sick!!! I think next time I'll be from the FBI or something!!!! But please do what i'm doing and keep them talking and waiting that way their not scamming anyone vulnerable and tell everyone else to do what I do.

Joe Blow - 03:33 15-11-2014

scam artists/Microsoft your box is screwed up...........Tell the caller to come over and have dinner........were bbq ing dead cow and pig!!!

Liviu Copaci - 10:29 11-11-2014

i had something like that but it was ironical because i am on tech support , usually i use 3 operating systems on my computer linux windows and osx hackintosh so it was preatty original as an ex beta tester on microsoft and curently a linux developer it was a fun conversation at list when i asked a error code more exactly code 48 an usb port conection isue that is caused by miss behaving cable so if someone calls tell them that you do not need support and if you have it is always a good thing to reinstall windows

The Mongrel - 10:20 06-11-2014

I wish I had kept my younger brother's old Speak & Spell. I could have had endless fun with these scammers making random beeps and blurts up the line at them.

Nothappy - 14:22 03-11-2014

Please let all of your clientss know about this scam! The Microsoft scam is still on as of October 30,2014.. The "microsoft tecnical support team" called me last Friday. It sounded like a man with an Indian accent. He told me to go to my computer right away. He showed me the viruses that were infecting my computer and said he would clean them up. I said how do i know you aren't a hacker? They had my computer registration number so I thought they were legit at first.Meanwhile, he sent me to his " chief engineer" who sent me to a fake website, They changed my software to suggest that my microsoft certificate had expired ( which it had not), and added a screen so that I cannot get into my computer without his code. I now have to redo my whole computer software package.They are calling from two phone numbers: 216-247-1314 ( Ohio) and 226-247-1246 ( Dallas).

The wanted to charge me $99.00 for one years protection or $199.00 for three years protection. When I went to pay I noticed that Microsoft was not listed on the payment form and I refused to go further. I questioned him and did not pay. I also turned off my computer and he called back and yelled at me for doing that!. The website address for the payment form was clickbetter.com/checkout.php .

The "engineer" gave me his name as Pedro Vermudez from Dallas Texas- employee number MCMC32017.Please let folks know about this scam.. When I asked to speak to the manager, he said that he was the manager.

I was working on a new Lenovo laptop with AVAST virus protection. I am an older profession woman aged 66 and don't appreciate the Hoax. He insulted me at the end for not buying the protection, and proceeded to mess with my computer when I got on it later- since he had access. I have taken my battery pack out and am not using the computer until it is fixed. .

Molly - 13:20 25-10-2014

Just had a call exactly like that. They were too stupid to withhold their number, which I got by dialling 1471: 001 208 356 3287

BacherBabe - 17:55 23-10-2014

When the call (and they call often) I just ask them, "Is your mother proud of you? Does she know that you cheat people for a living? You scammed MY mother, does your mother know about THAT?" Yesterday I started into my scam-shaming-spiel, and the girl sputtered and angrily told me that MY father knew EVERYTHING about me because [insert illegal sexual act with daughter here] and then hung up on me.

Gram 123 - 17:13 09-10-2014

I just tell them the call is being recorded and presto they are gone

Richard - 06:36 23-09-2014

were currently getting them once or twice a week, i have fun with them.. i like to wait for there response when i lie back by saying "Microsoft?, all my machines are made by apple" :-) . No major firm like this will ever ring you, if you have been naughty, like i have been told to me by there service centre in "India" , i would expect a court summons, not a phone call from "Brian"